With just a little bit of thought and planning, wellness-focused gifts can be tailored to suit anyone on your list.
Classes or services are easy evergreen wellness ideas – especially if it’s something they wouldn’t typically do for themselves: A package of sessions with a registered dietitian or licensed acupuncturist; a series of workout classes that you can do together, or a creative outlet like painting or pottery classes [shameless plug: the pottery studio I go to weekly is A Potter’s Hand by Nell Simpson, nellrea@icloud.com]
For more ideas to get you in the wellness-minded spirit, here are some of my top picks for life-enhancing gift ideas to suit an array of people in your life:
FOR HOME CHEFS + FOOD LOVERS
Homemade Baked Goods | $ varies
Gift friends and family with your own handmade cookies, scones or energy bites. Opting for gluten-free flours like almond flour and coconut flour, a plant-based sweetener in place of sugar, and using coconut oil in place of butter when possible ensures that your holiday sweets will fit a variety of nutritional needs. It’s also an incredible way to introduce loved ones to better-for-you alternatives to holiday favorites. Check out the my full podcast with Ben McLauchlin, featuring some of his favorite holiday sweet Ideas.
Eat Fit Cookbook | $28
Gift them with a wellness-focused cookbook (of course we highly recommend our Eat Fit Cookbook!), along with several of the key ingredients to make one of the recipes inside. Find a full list of retailers or order online at EatFitCookbook.com, with promo code EATFITGIFT for 20% off regular price of $35 through the holidays.
Infused Oils | can easily be under $5 each
Spicy or herby, homemade infused olive oil makes a versatile, long-lasting gift. We like to use clear glass bottles with a swing-top latch-style lid, then use paint pens to write the description and holiday greeting down the side of the bottle.
Herb garden starter kit | $22
Create your own, or we love this mason jar indoor herb garden by Modern Sprout, available via UncommonGoods.com – it’s the perfect solution for those with no garden, little time and/or no green thumb. Sarah Burrows and Nick Behr’s tinted, vintage-inspired jars use a hydroponic system so there’s no guesswork over whether the soil has the right amount of water. Plant the included seeds, add water, place the jar in a sunny space and you’ll be ready to grow.
Italian Cheesemaking Kit | $29
Turn your kitchen into a DIY cheese shop. This kit is packed with the tools and ingredients to make 10 delicious batches of Italian cheese; just add milk to create favorites like burrata, ricotta and fresh mozzarella. Visit www.uncommongoods.com and search ‘cheesemaking kit’.
Gachi Tea | from $9.99
Locally owned in the heart of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Gachi sources carefully and directly from small farms. In addition to artisan-crafted loose leaf tea, Gachi also offers tea utensils such hand-made teaware and accessories.
FOR FOLKS ON THE RUN
Fresh-Pressed Juice | starting at $8
from juice bars like The Green Fork make it easy for us with weekly delivery of freshly pressed juices. Juices are all made to order so gift recipients can customize exactly what they want, from organic ingredients that are locally sourced as much as possible.
FOR FITNESS BUFFS + WORKOUT NEWBIES
Exercise Gear | $ varies
Cool workout apparel and gear is always appreciated. My all-time favorites include New Orleans-based Tasc Performance, Sweaty Betty, Prana, and I always love the quality and style of Athleta and Lululemon.
Eat Fit baseball cap | $20
Available in 6 different regions (NOLA, BR, Northshore, Acadiana, Shreveport + Monroe), Eat Fit caps are an easy one-size-fits-all. Visit ShopEatFit.com and use code EatFitGIFT for 20% off regular price of $25.
The Theragun Deep Tissue Therapy Device | $199
Theragun is a handheld deep tissue therapy device is a game-changer, relieving muscle tension with a precisely-calibrated combination of depth, speed, and power. Perfect for athletes or anyone who struggles with chronically tight and sore muscles. Try Theragun for 30 days, starting at $199 at www.therabody.com/fueled .
Whirly Board Balance Board | $139.95
Use it at home, while working out (perfect for board sports training) or even as part of physical therapy, to keep moving for better health. The Whirly Board allows you to spin 360 degrees, engaging essential core muscles to improve strength, balance and agility. Available at WhirlyBoard.com
Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian + nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of Ochsner Eat Fit nonprofit restaurant initiative. Tune in to her podcast, FUELED | Wellness + Nutrition and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. See more of Molly’s articles + TV segments at www.mollykimball.com, and sign up for Eat Fit Wellness Bites weekly newsletter, here.
